MEPs debate McCartney case

MEPs are to decide whether to give the sisters of a murdered Belfast man money towards a legal campaign to bring his killers to justice.

Robert McCartney was stabbed to death following a quarrel in a Belfast bar.

His family has blamed the IRA for the murder and subsequent interference with evidence and witnesses.

The McCartney family are trying to raise financial support to begin a civil action against those they believe are responsible for his murder.

The McCartney’s, who are visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, will meet with the assembly's President Josep Borrell for the second time.

"Violence must be fought and condemned in all countries, by all means the doors of the European Parliament will always be open to those who need a public tribune to fight any kind of injustice," said Borrell.

Communists in the European Parliament’s leftist GUE Group are supporting their Sinn Fein colleagues in refusing to sign a resolution condemning IRA violence.

Party leader, Francis Wurtz, says he is opting for the group's own resolution which frees Sinn Fein of political responsibility for the murder.

The group offered its ‘solidarity’ to the McCartney family and told assembled MEPs that Sinn Fein as a democratic political party should use their power to make witnesses from the bar cooperate with the police.

So far, police in Northern Ireland investigating the murder have arrested and questioned 12 men, all of whom were released without charge.

The IRA has expelled three members for the death and Sinn Fein subsequently suspended seven of its members.

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